Portland Thorns FC has announced the re-signing of soccer legend Christine Sinclair for the 2024 season on a one-year deal. Sinclair, the club’s all-time leading goal-scorer, is set to return for her 12th season with the Thorns.
Sinclair holds an impressive record, with 62 goals, ranking her third in National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) history, and 176 appearances, placing her seventh in the NWSL. She has been a vital part of every title the Thorns have won, including three NWSL Championships (2013, 2017, 2022), two NWSL Shields (2016, 2021), the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, the 2021 Women’s International Champions Cup, and the 2020 NWSL Community Shield.
The Thorns’ head coach, Mike Norris, expressed his excitement about having Sinclair back, stating, “To get the GOAT back in a Thorns jersey for 2024 is fantastic news. To have Sinc’s experience, qualities and presence is vital for our roster, in both her impact on the field as well as the example she sets for others on a daily basis.”
Sinclair retired from international football in 2023 after a 23-year career with Canada’s women’s national team. She left as the reigning international goal-scoring leader, male or female, with an impressive record of 190 goals.
General Manager Karina LeBlanc highlighted Sinclair’s integral role in the Thorns, stating, “Sinc has been with this club from the beginning, she is the foundation with which Portland Thorns is built on, and as much as she is a part of the DNA of the Thorns, the Thorns are part of her DNA.”
In addition to Sinclair, the Thorns also re-signed defender Meghan Klingenberg to a one-year deal. Klingenberg, a two-time NWSL champion, has been with the club for eight years and has made significant contributions both on and off the field. The Thorns look forward to the upcoming season with Sinclair and Klingenberg as key components of the team.
